2018 Draft Thread #6

[bigworld2017]

I think I'd be very happy if ESPN's projections were to come true. But if our own pick comes in 8-10 we aren't getting Porter unless his back sends up scary red flags. I also like Lonnie Walker IV. Very active defensively. Nice form on his jumper, which he can launch off the dribble or straight up after a catch. He's 6-5" with some length to him. Great haircut. But I think Blakeney is going to prove to be a very valuable 2 guard to spell Lavine when we want offense. And we can play Nwaba there is we need defense. So we really don't need another 2. I assume both Bridges and Knox will be gone by the time the Pelicans pick comes to us. I see a couple other wings that look promising. De'Andre Hunter from Virginia. He's 6-8" with a 72" wingspan, good handles (he plays PG for UVA). Good all-round player. Could conceivably play all 3 wing spots on both ends. And like a poster a way back brought up, Melvin Frazier looks promising. 6-6", great length, quick as hell, tenacious on defense. With either of these guys using the Pels pick and our own pick on Porter (a prayer), a Bridges or a Knox and we have the wing situation solidified for years to come.

[Chitownbulls]

Trae Young = DeAngelo Russell 2.0

Kid has talent but really needs to mature.

It's like Tyus Jones. 6ft PG out of duke who played with Okafor and win the title. Tyus was the best guy on that team but he was tiny and an 18 yr old immature kid.

3 years later Thibs has started to sculpt that kid into a basic NBA PG. That's all he is - backup PG for 20 min a night. 5 PPG.

Young is gonna need the same time to develop and I'd rather watch these guys develop in college and see them vs Trae Young riding the pine in ATL or ORL for a few years.

Like instead of arguing about Bagley and Carter - I'd rather be talking about Duke and Tyus Jones, Okafor and Winslow trying for their 3rd NCAA title with a deep team that includes a young Taytum, Ojeleye and Ingram off the bench and a couple of freshman phenoms like Bagley and Carter.

Doncic reminds me of a DeAngelo Russell type of player.

[JohnnyKILLroy]

Trae Young = DeAngelo Russell 2.0

Kid has talent but really needs to mature.

It's like Tyus Jones. 6ft PG out of duke who played with Okafor and win the title. Tyus was the best guy on that team but he was tiny and an 18 yr old immature kid.

3 years later Thibs has started to sculpt that kid into a basic NBA PG. That's all he is - backup PG for 20 min a night. 5 PPG.

Young is gonna need the same time to develop and I'd rather watch these guys develop in college and see them vs Trae Young riding the pine in ATL or ORL for a few years.

Like instead of arguing about Bagley and Carter - I'd rather be talking about Duke and Tyus Jones, Okafor and Winslow trying for their 3rd NCAA title with a deep team that includes a young Taytum, Ojeleye and Ingram off the bench and a couple of freshman phenoms like Bagley and Carter.

Doncic reminds me of a DeAngelo Russell type of player.

Yeah not really.

He’s 3 inches taller, 40lbs heavier and will probably average twice as many assists.

[kodo]

http://insider.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/22506994/2018-nba-mock-draft-trae-young-luka-doncic-top-prospects

new espn mock draft

6. Chicago Bulls
Michael Porter Jr.
Missouri
Freshman
PF

Height: 6-foot-10 | Weight: 214

The Bulls have a gaping hole at the small forward position, and could use all the firepower they can find from the perimeter. Porter's ability to play alongside Lauri Markkanen should make him very attractive at this spot.

Porter came into the season with the hope of making a run at being the No. 1 pick in the draft, but unfortunately he hasn't been able to build his case because of a back injury. The results of his medical examination will play a significant role in where he is ultimately drafted, but NBA teams don't appear to be especially concerned right now about the nature of the injury and his long-term prognosis.

Starting salary: $4,823,520

That would be nice but I don't see us drafting 6, I think we're in play for 7-8. That would leave Trae and Wendell Carter by Givony's mock.

I prefer Miles Bridges here...if a PG or C isn't all-NBA caliber...I'd prefer a 3&D wing with elite athleticism.

Would love Walker w/ the Pels pick.

[realEAST]

here's whole latest mock: http://insider2text.xyz/articles/e5c16c19962f9dc7

[JohnnyKILLroy]

here's whole latest mock: http://insider2text.xyz/articles/e5c16c19962f9dc7

I’m not crazy about Porter but if his back checks out I’d rather have him than Young.

[Benedict Miller]

Trae Young = DeAngelo Russell 2.0

Kid has talent but really needs to mature.

It's like Tyus Jones. 6ft PG out of duke who played with Okafor and win the title. Tyus was the best guy on that team but he was tiny and an 18 yr old immature kid.

3 years later Thibs has started to sculpt that kid into a basic NBA PG. That's all he is - backup PG for 20 min a night. 5 PPG.

Young is gonna need the same time to develop and I'd rather watch these guys develop in college and see them vs Trae Young riding the pine in ATL or ORL for a few years.

Like instead of arguing about Bagley and Carter - I'd rather be talking about Duke and Tyus Jones, Okafor and Winslow trying for their 3rd NCAA title with a deep team that includes a young Taytum, Ojeleye and Ingram off the bench and a couple of freshman phenoms like Bagley and Carter.

Doncic reminds me of a DeAngelo Russell type of player.

Yeah not really.

He’s 3 inches taller, 40lbs heavier and will probably average twice as many assists.

I do see a little resemblance in how they use their craftiness as a scorer.

[StunnerKO]

Trae Young in conference play:

124 FGM
314 FGA
39% FG%

53 3PM
160 3PA
33% 3P%

95 TO's
6.3 TPG

[Benedict Miller]

I need Isaiah Thomas to start balling out, so whoever picks ahead of us can have faith in drafting small scoring point guards again.

[IcemanGervin]

I think too many people assume Trea Young will play the same way he does in college in the NBA. Right now he's playing with limited talent around him and has free reign to go crazy.

[Leslie Forman]

I'm aware of the first comment. To me, "talking about him the same way people are talking about Bamba" isn't a comparison. Just a statement. I see no side-by-side evaluation being done. I took it as TongPo just giving a general warning about about can't-miss prospects and how they often do miss.

The rest is just fallout from, again, a comparison I never saw being made. If our difference of opinion stems from TongPo's statement then that's understandable as I can see where it could have been taken as a direct comparison, even though I read it differently.

Hey, I'm not trying to say that Bamba = Thabeet. It was just an example of how easily we all talk ourselves into prospects we really don't even know anything about, which isn't our fault, it's not like we're actually scouting them. And there's clearly some resemblance in how they're talked about if anybody remembers that draft.

Everybody is raving about the top of this draft but the flags on a lot of these guys are really glaring ones that make me think this isn't going to actually be that great of a draft.

[Leslie Forman]

I think too many people assume Trea Young will play the same way he does in college in the NBA. Right now he's playing with limited talent around him and has free reign to go crazy.

Yeah people are assuming this is how Young actually wants to play, it's clearly not. His best trait is by far his playmaking but his team is so inept he is forced to be a score-first guard. Making plays for crappy players takes more energy than anything else in basketball by far.

[ATRAIN53]

14. Chicago Bulls (via Pelicans)

Lonnie Walker IV
Miami
Freshman
SG/SF

Height: 6-foot-4 | Weight: 206

Chicago's wing rotation is still a work in progress, and could certainly use some more shooting, length and perimeter defensive prowess.

Walker started off the season poorly, but has been much better in ACC play, reestablishing himself as a potential lottery-caliber prospect. The lack of depth at the wing position certainly helps him as well.

His youth, strong frame, 6-foot-10½ wingspan and ability to shoot with his feet set or off the dribble make him a candidate to rise even further during the pre-draft process as teams search for upside and diamonds in the rough.

Starting salary: $2,869,320
The Bulls will receive New Orleans' pick if it falls outside the top five.

3rd time this week I have seen Lonnie Walker mentioned as moving up draft.
He apparently had a slow start and gaining momentum.

I watched most of that Cathlocs vs Convicts basketball game last night and this kid def has some talent.
dude was 5-7 from 3 point range. A couple looked like NBA range.

SI comparing him to Oliadipo here-
https://www.si.com/nba/2018/02/05/nba-draft-lonnie-walker-miami-lottery-pick-victor-oladipo

Lonnie has a monster tournament, or drops like 40 in a game before the tourney - he will be a lottery pick.

I'm cooling off on Jaren Jackson. My eye test on Saturday vs Northwestern was pretty bad. Yes that team overlooked NU and almost got beat - but the guy who wanted the ball and took charge in that game?

Cassius Winston (sadly under 6ft)

Bridges came on late - but I was watching every move and the demeanor or Jackson and he's got skills but he vanished in that game. There was a point I wanted to yell at him - it's the freakin Wildcats you should be DESTROYING them. I think Izzo was also a little puzzled at his lack of aggressiveness. He need to have some monster tourney games to justify Bulls picking him in the lottery IMO.

[realEAST]

here's whole latest mock: http://insider2text.xyz/articles/e5c16c19962f9dc7

I’m not crazy about Porter but if his back checks out I’d rather have him than Young.

Agree.
Not sure if Bagley could fall that far, but if we get him at #6 or #7, I'd be pretty happy too.
(it seems he is dropping a bit, I don't know, but good game or two and he is back in #1 discussion, as this things work)

[Axolotl]

I’m not crazy about Porter but if his back checks out I’d rather have him than Young.

Absolutely. Porter's back injury is - to my understanding - kinda on/off. Either he returns 100% or close thereof, or not at all. If he returns, there should be major upside there if picked at #6.

[JohnnyKILLroy]

here's whole latest mock: http://insider2text.xyz/articles/e5c16c19962f9dc7

I’m not crazy about Porter but if his back checks out I’d rather have him than Young.

Agree.
Not sure if Bagley could fall that far, but if we get him at #6 or #7, I'd be pretty happy too.
(it seems he is dropping a bit, I don't know, but good game or two and he is back in #1 discussion, as this things work)

Yeah I don’t get the drop, makes no sense - he’s doing what he’s supposed to be doing.

[RememberLu]

I'd be happy with Porter. But then we'd have three young guys on permanent injury watch: Lauri with his back spasms, Porter with his back and Zach with his knee, And I guess Dunn with his teeth lol

[tunit213]

Finally people realizing Trae Young is not a good fit here. Took a while, but better late then never.

[tunit213]

As the dust settles, the hype of Doncic and Bagley have lessened compared to early September and the hype of Ayton continues to grow.

Yeah Aytons confidence level is at an all time high for him right now and it shows.

[JimmyJammer]

I can't wait to see the outrage when New Orleans pick a young player with upside with the second round pick we gave back to them in the Mirotic's trade, lol. #onlybullsfans.